Going to view a puppy this week, woke up in a cold sweat this morning

[FireAdvice]

I know that new puppy blues/panic can be a thing and iirc I was a bit like this last time I got a puppy.

So I currently have a 12yo dog who is the light of my life, best behaved dog ever. She is getting older and really slowing down and struggling to walk.

I have been in 2 minds for a bit about do I wait to get another dog until after she's died or get one now. My feeling for getting one now is having that older dog around to show a new puppy the ropes, be company for her.

I wfh 3 days a week and am in the office 2 days a week, although some weeks I wfh all week. If I do go into the office I am home mid afternoon and have a dog walker who comes in mid/late morning. DH works out of the home 5 days a week. No kids. I have money for extra vet bills, insurance, food, etc.

I think I'm just slightly panicking about as older dog deteriorates having 2 dogs with different needs. We do have a massive garden and older dog is happy these days pootling around there and having a short walk to the park. I just think I'd feel bad leaving at her home while walking the younger dog a longer walk? I can walk the younger dog first thing and then take the older dog/both of them out at lunch time for a short walk. Older dog is small and I do also have a dog buggy for her so I can walk one and push one though it might be chaos???

Any ideas of names for a boy terrier? 😁

I've never had a terrier before apart from when I was younger and lived on a farm, we had a JRT which was totally feral and used to be self sufficient and just roam the barns and stables ratting. Nobody ever walked it so not 100% sure what their energy levels are compared to my current couch potato. But I know to expect higher energy. Think I'm most worried about needing to puppy proof the house from a potential chewer. Current dog has never chewed anything but a previous dog was awful for wrecking shoes!

And now the back track

op you won’t change our minds

this is NOT in the interests of your aged dog

so don’t be selfish. It’s that simple

Please reconsider. My old girl developed dementia aged 12 and I can't imagine coping with that and a puppy. Apart from anything else, what kind of breeder breeds pups for Christmas? Your girl may not have much longer left, let her enjoy her old age.

I wouldn’t bring a puppy into a household with an older dog that has been used to being on her own. The pup is going to be a little terror they will want to play, your dog wants peace not to show the ropes to a bouncy pup.
Honestly I would wait

The fact the op thinks her aging dog is going to be fine with a puppy living with her because her dog loves meeting a young dog whilst out on her walk… really tells me all I need to know to about this op as a dog owner

I have an 11 1/2 yr old who sounds a lot like yours. She still runs around like a loon when she meets other dogs but she also sleeps a lot (as older dogs should) and her calm, safe space is our home. Introducing a puppy would be introducing so much stress into your pooch’s life. It’s just not worth it. Give her her retirement she deserves and look to get a puppy when you have recovered from her loss.

Older dogs tend to suffer from cognitive impairment (that we often don’t really pick up on). Having a pup around will just add to her confusion since nothing will be stable anymore.

I completely understand that you want to give her company and prepare yourself the best you can for the inevitable but you need to have the best interests of your dog at heart.

This is exactly what my dog was like. It did take a few weeks of adjustment and she put the puppy firmly in her place. But it made her old age so much happier.

Oh it could end up with the two dogs needing to be separated until the older dog dies, as very often happens.

I know someone who did this - their elderly dog loved meeting puppies on walks - and guess what? A month into puppy being there, the older dog nearly killed it.

Living with a puppy is very different to meeting one on a walk.

Your dog liking other dogs on walks is very different from bringing one into its home. Your old dog should continue to be your priority and that probably means ensuring they have a quiet safe space to see out their days, not being bothered by a young energetic pup.

awful comment

This. OP, puppies are little arseholes (in the most lovable way). She will pester your old dog 24/7. Jumping, nipping, biting, trying to play.

If you do, you’ll need a puppy pen/crate (this is a good idea anyway to enforce rest for the pup as they need 18 hours sleep a day) to keep the puppy away from your other dog. But as your older dog will be a magnet for the pup, whenever pup is out of the pen they’ll go straight to your older dog and you’ll end up using the pen/crate a lot of the time to separate them. Is this fair on the pup?

Could you play with the puppy, train the puppy, teach household boundaries and the like while pup is distracted by the older dog?

Puppies are overwhelmingly hard work for at least 6 months, then again when they hit adolescence. Can you do it with the older dog? Is it fair on the older dog?

I'm more concerned about the puppy.

What will happen when the puppies older friend goes across the rainbow bridge.

Would you be prepared to get another fog if puppy feels lonely and miserable for months on end?

Please do not underestimate the difficulties of having 2 dogs with different needs.

My dog aged dramatically between 12 and 14. She went from walking for a couple of hours to a very slow amble around the block. She also had a couple of seizures in those last two years that meant we were very loathe to leave her alone even for the shortest of times. How will you cope with walking the pup if that happens?

JRTs are called terrierists for good reason. They are total livewires. My JRT would happily walk the hills with me all day and still be raring to go. She did not calm down in the slightest until she was 7.

Their size is no indication of their energy levels.

If you get the puppy I am sure you will regret it.

The only time to get a dog is when you have absolutely no doubt you are doing the right thing.

I agree with this.

In general I do not agree with getting a second dog when there is an established dog in the family. I've seen people do it several times and each time the original dog is miserable, a changed dog. They seem to feel really displaced in the pack. Never seen one of those dogs recover either. They stay changed.

But as she gets older and less mobile a young dog is going to drive her mad! And this is when bite risk rises.

I’m in a similar boat, my chihuahua is 12, and is now very much an old dog she had a bad vestibular episode in the summer which meant she could barely walk. She now’s better but no longer manages walks and sleeps most of the day. I think a lot about getting another dog, but I couldn’t deal with the stress of the fallout when she realises I’ve brought another dog into the house. Personally I think she’s be heartbroken. They do get used to being the only dog in the house. It truly is your decision but if you’re waking up in a cold sweat about getting a puppy before you’ve even brought it into the house, the answer is pretty clear.
I’m taking this time to really research what breed I want next, for me it’s probably going to be a golden retriever - can you imagine bringing one of them home with a grumpy chihuahua ! But it’s gives you plenty of time to really think about what you want, personally I’m not going to let myself make any rash decisions, the possibility of it turning into a nightmare is just to much of a risk. Please do think long and hard about what you really want.

Op will you take on board the comments?

or will you leave the thread and plough on regardless?

Yes but that dog isn’t in her home. A pup would interfere with her space ,routine, be wanting to play with her when she wants to sleep etc.

Mine had a vestibular episode in the summer too, which really knocked her for six. I think it’s important to realise our older dogs really like stability and calm in their latter years. Fun is great in small doses, but we need to make sure they are getting the rest they need.

❤️

If you have no experience with terriers then this is a terrible idea. I love terriers, but I've had them all my life and know what they need.

Don't be tricked by their size, there is a lot of dog packed in there. Almost certainly too much for your poor older dog to ever have any peace again.

Liking dogs on walks is NOT the same as living with a bitey little maniac (which a terrier puppy will most likely be for the first year at least) 24 hours a day.

In what way exactly??

Thanks everyone for your opinions it’s certainly given me food for thought and I need to have a hard think. Just a couple of points though…..I’m not looking at a backyard breeder at all -quite the opposite. Mum has been at Crufts, full KC reg (which I’m aware doesn’t necessarily mean anything). But not a backyard breeder.

I have done research into the breed and am aware that from an energy level will be full on. I’ve been on various fb groups for the breed for over a year (along with a few different breeds). I do have terrier experience, but only from when I lived on a farm. I haven’t had a terrier in a more traditional home set up. But previous terrier would literally climb the trees after squirrels so I’m aware how bonkers they are.

i think the main think which is causing me to pause now is not wanting my existing dog to be made miserable by a full on puppy.

So the OP didn’t get the responses she wanted / expected, so off she goes, still intending to introduce a puppy in to the life of her very aged dog.

wonderful, just wonderful.

Probably from your sweeping assumption that I was going to a backyard breeder when you had no evidence of that as well as saying I’ve done no research into the breed which is also untrue.

Sorry, where did I say that? I’m actually swinging far more in the direction not getting another dog after this thread.

How are you treating the older dog to make him less stiff? Something from the vets, something in his diet?